Dr. Teresa Birdwhistell received a B. S. degree in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina, and M.S. and Ph. D. degrees in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill. She did post-doctoral research at the University of Colorado-Boulder, then taught at Eastern Michigan University and the University of New Orleans before moving to Xavier University of Louisiana in 1989. While at Xavier Dr. Birdwhistell was engaged in research studying Zintl phase materials as potential precursors for semiconductors. Dr. Birdwhistell was a mentor for the MARC U*STAR Program and served as the Program Director for the Program for 20 years. Dr. Birdwhistell is currently the Chemistry Department Head.